Acrylic esters of olefinic alcohols and polymers thereof and method for making them



Patented Dec. 21, 1948 ACRYLIC ESTERS OF OLEFINIC ALCOHOLS AND POLYMERS THEREOF AND METHOD FOR MAKING mm Chessie a. Rabat, Glenside, and Charles 11. Fisher, Abington, Pa, asaignors to the United States of America as re tary ofAgriculture presented by the Score- No Drawing. Application July 15, 1944, sellll N0. 545,164

7 Claims. (Cl. 260-79) (Granted under the act of March a, 1883, as;

amended April 30, 1928: 370 0. G. 757) 4 This application is made under the, act of March 3, 1883. as amended by the act of April 30, 1928, and the invention hereindescrlbed and claimed, if patented, may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States for governmental purposes without the payment to us of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to new esters of acrylic acid polymers thereof and methods for preparing them. More particularly it relates to acrylic esters wherein the alcohol radical contains one or more olefinic double bonds, to polymers and copolymers thereof and to methods for preparing them.

The general object of this invention is to provide new and useful compositions of matter comprising acrylic esters of olefinic alcohols and polymers thereof, which possess in variable degree the property of producing cross-linked polymers, polymers which contain olefinic double bonds, or

good yield, using the alcoholysis method, by the reaction of methyl or ethyl acrylate or substituted acrylate with the oleflnic alcohol, provided that suitable precautions are taken to prevent polymerization.

In the preparation of acrylic esters of olefinic alcohols by the alcoholysis method, a lower acrylic ester, such as the methyl or ethyl ester, is heated with the olefinic alcohol in the presence of a suitable catalyst and a polymerization inhibitor. Aluminum alcoholate is a preferred catalyst although alkali metal alcoholates may be used and, in cases where the olefinic alcohol is not adversely affected, mineral acids, sulfonic acids and other both. Other objects and advantages'of the inreadily undergo isomerization or molecular rearrangement under the usual conditions for carrying out the alcoholysis.

The acrylic esters of olefinic alcohols are especially desirable because of their valuable and unusual property of producing polymers and copolymers which contain oleflnic double bonds, and hence are capable of reacting with halogens, sulfur, and other reagents which normally react with such double bonds. Furthermore, the polymers of these acrylic esters may have a variable and controllable degree or amount of cross-linkage, depending on the particular ester used, the amount used, and the conditions under which it is polymerized. This is a valuable property. since a small amount of cross-linkage produces drastic changes in the nature and physical prop- I erties of the polymer, reducing its solubility, increasing its hardness, and increasing its heat resistance. 7

It has been found that acrylic esters of olefinic alcohols can be prepared satisfactorily and in acidic. catalysts may be used.

Certain olefinic alcohols undergo rearrangement or isomerization in the presence of strong acids under the conditions of the alcoholysis reaction. The alcohol, such as methanol or ethanol, which is liberated in the alcoholysis reaction, can often be removed from the reaction mixture by distillation during the reaction, thus causing the reaction to proceed nearer completion. For this purpose, when using methyl acrylate or methacrylate as a reagent, it is convenient to distill out the azeotrope which methanol forms with methyl acrylate or methacrylate. Obviously, when this method is to be used, an excess of the methyl acrylate or methacrylate should be put into the reaction mixture. The alcohol liberated in the reaction may also be removed from the reaction mixture during the course of the reaction by putting in a suitable entraining agent such as a paraflinic hydrocarbon liquid of suitable boiling range. For removing methanol from a mixture containing methyl acrylate, a suitable hydrocarbon is a petroleum ether fraction boiling between -65 C. Other fractions would he suitable for separating other mixtures.

The following examples illustrate but are not limitations upon this invention:

EXAMPLE I I Allyl acrylate, CH2.C'HCOOCH2CH.'CH2

Three moles (258 g.) vof methyl acrylate, 2.0

moles (116 g.) of allyl alcohol, 10 g. of hydroquinone and 2 g. of p-toluene-sulfonic acid were refluxed together in a flask attached to a 3-ft. fractionating column. The still was operated under total reflux until the temperature at the stillhead dropped to 62-3 C.-,'the boiling-point of the methanol-methyl acrylate az'eotrope. The azeotrope was .then slowly distilled off as rapdily as formed until no more methanol was produced. The excess methyl acrylate was then dis- V v tilled oil and finally the allyl acrylate was distilled at 120-25" 0. Upon redistillation the w acrylate acrylate boiled at 122 c. (47 c. at 40 mm), At. CH2.'CHCOOCH2CH:C'(CHa) (CH2)2C'H:C(CH:)2

V 20 C. it had N 1.4320; 5 One mole (154 g.) of geranyl alcohol, 4.0 moles d? .9441 (344 g.) of methyiacrylate, g. of phenyl-betanaphthylamine and a solution of 1 g. of amalg mma 156 5" or 9 of the theoret' gamated aluminum foil in cc. of methanol were Polymerized alone by heat; peroxideor ultra- 10 2: :52 f caused d? as describeii in Ex? violet light, allyl acrylate givesavery hard, brittle, Geranyl acrylate was obtained as a colorless,

insoluble and infusible cross-linked resin. ,When

. mobile liquid boiling at 112 C. at 4.7.mm. and a few tenths of one percent of allyl acrylate in having NEW, 1.4718 and 1 methyl acrylate is polymerized the copolymer is harder, stronger, tougher and more resistant to 1 d? 9144 solvents and heat than is polymethyl acrylate.

The yield was 74 percent.

Methallyl acrylate, .CHz.'CHC'OOC'H2C(CHa) .CHz Emmi! VI Oleyl acrylate,

One gram of aluminum foil was dipped into 20 mercury. and then dissolved in hot methallyl alcH"cH'cooCH2(cH-2) "cH'cH(cH2) 7 I cohol. Enough methallyl alcohol to make a total A mixture of unsaturated alcohols obtained b" of 144 g. (two moles) was then added. Six moles the partial hydrogenation of a commercial fish oil (516 g.) of methyl acrylate and 15 g. of phenylwas fractionally distilled and the fraction boiling be'ta-naphthylamine were then added and the at 185-95 C. at 5 mm. was used to prepare the mixture was refluxed with continuous removal of acrylate. This fraction had a refractive index at methanol-methyl acrylate azeotrope as described 20 C. of 1.4635 and was a colorless, oily liquid.

in Example I. I From 92 g. of the crude oleyl alcohol described The methallyl acrylate was distilled at 57 C. above, 258 g. of methyl acrylate, 10 g. of hydrov at 28 mm., the reduced pressure being preferred o quinone and 1 cc. of sulfuric acid the methanol because of the lesser danger of polymerization methyl acrylate azeotrope was distilled as de- 0f the product. The methallylacrylate had scribed in Example I. when the reaction was N 1.4385 and complete the excess methyl acrylate was distilled 1 sodium carbonate solution to remove the sulfuric The yield was 74 percent of the theoretical.

out.. The residue was then washed with aqueous acid, then washed with water, dried by warming- Pdymers and polymers of methanyl acrylate undervacuum, and finally distilled from a lowwere P d as described any! acrylate necked distilling flask under 0.4 mm. pressure. Example I- and the Properties of the esins were The distillate was then redistilled through a fracsimilar to those obtained from the allyl ester, a (mating column, the acrylate boning at 15046 though the tendency to produce cross-linkage ap- C at 02 having N 20 L466 d peared to be slightly less.

EXAMPLEIII 11.30382 Crotyl acrylate,CHuCHCOOCHzC'HflHC'Ha 5 Emmi-B VII 7 Two moles (144 g.) of crotyl alcohol, 6.'0--moles nnamyl acryla C Z EH- HCsHs 8-) of methy fi y ate, 10 5M P-D y One mole (134 g.) of cinnamyl alcohol, 4.0

diamine and 5 g. 0f aluminum tert-butoxide were moles (344 g.) of methyl acrylate, 15 g. of phenylrefluxed as described i the p e exemplesbeta-naphthylamine and 5 g. of aluminum tertwhen the reaction was complete the mixture was butoxide were mixed and allowed to react as in distilled, the crotyl acrylate boiling at C. at Example L when no more methanol was 23 It had N020! 1-4422 and duced, the mixture was fractionally distilled.

. d2, 0.9344 The cinnamyl acrylate was obtained as a pleas- The yield was 69, percent of the theoretical. 55 ant'smemng liquid boiling at at 4 and Polymers and copolymers were prepared as dehaving 15503 and scribed in Example I. Crotyl acrylate alone pro- 1 0495 duces a cross-link resin but its copolymers with monofunctional monomers show less cross-link- The'yield was 71 percent of the theoretical.

h d h l e l p age t an o t e copo ym rs of allyl acry ate 4 EXAMPLE Vm EXAMPLEIY Beta-chloroallyl acrylate. Citronellyl acrylate, CHz:C'HC'OOC'HzCCl:CHz

oH-z'oHcoocHgoHzcHwHs)(CHZMWGHB) yBy proceeding substantially as in Example I On 111018 56 of 01t10n81l01. 4-0 moles (344 u there'was obtained from beta-chloroallyl alcohol of methyl acrylate 15 of phenyl'beta'naph and methyl acrylate, in the presence of sulfuric thylamme and 5 of aluminum tert-'butxide acid and hydroquinone, a 56 percent yield of betawere refluxed as described in Example when chloroallyl acrylate having a boiling point of 74' the reaction was complete and the products C. at 29 zn L460); were distilled, the citronellyl acrylate was obtained as a liquid which boiled at 108 C. at 5.4 3", 1-1243 and had ND 13500 This acrylate polymerizes very readily, the

3?, 0.8879 product being similar in physical appearance to The yield was 91 percent of the theoretical. 75 that obtained from allyl acrylate.

ExmnnIX Gamma-chloroallyl acrylate,

CHz:C'HCOO0HzCH:CHCl

Two moles (185 g.) of gamma-chloroallyl alcohol (mixture of cisand transisomers), and 6.0 moles (516 g.) of methyl acrylate, g. of phenylbeta naphthylamine and 1 g. of aluminum foil (amalgamated and dissolved in the alcohol) were refluxed and caused to react as in Example I. By distilling the reaction mixture, the gammachloroallyl acrylate was obtained as a colorless liquid boiling at 87 C. at 34 mm. and having ND, 1.4680 and p, 1.1385 The yield was 68 percent of the theoretical.

EXAMPLE X Methyl vinyl carbinyl acrylate, CH2 :C'HCOOCH (CH3) C'H.'CHz

Two moles (144 g.) of methyl vinyl carbinol, 6.0 moles (516 g.) of methyl acrylate, 10 g. of p-phenylenediamine and 5 g. of aluminum tert.- butoxide were mixed and refluxed as in Example I. When no more methanol was produced the mixture was fractlonally distilled. The acrylate boiled at 71 C. at 9'7 mm. and had No", 1.4283

and

The yield was 37 percent of the theoretical, some of the product being lost through polymerization.

'POLYMERIZATION EXAMPLE XI Eighty cc. of ethyl acetate, 19 cc. of methyl acrylate, 1 cc. of crotyl acrylate, and 0.05 g. of benzoyl peroxide was heated for 24 hours at 70 C. The entire mass formed a solid gel which was insoluble in the common organic solvents. By evaporating the solvent, the polymer was obtained as a tough, transparent, slightly elastic, insoluble solid. 1

EXAMPLE XlI The same as Example XI except that 0.1 g. of dodecyl mercaptan was added to the mixture. Instead of a gel, the product was a sirupy, homogeneous solution from which the polymer was obtained by evaporating the ethyl acetate. This polymer was soft, very elastic and rubber-like, transparent, and readily soluble in ethyl acetate, acetone, toluene and other solvents.

Results similar to those of Examples XI and X11 may be obtained by using acrylic esters of olefinic alcohols other than crotyl acrylate, as for example, geranyl citronellyl, rhodinyl or cinnamyl acrylate. It will be understood that other polymerization catalysts, regulators, solvents, etc., may be used and that the polymerization may be carried out in solution, in aqueous emulsion or in mass.

From the examples described above itis apparent that a wide variety of acrylic esters of clefinic alcohols can be prepared by the process of this invention. In addition to the esters of acrylic acid, the corresponding esters of substituted acrylic acids such as methacrylic, ethacrylic, propacrylic, chloroacrylic and bromoacrylic acid may be prepared by the alcoholysis method. Among other oleflnic alcohols that may be used are penten-4-ol-1 and undecenyl alcohol.

The acrylic esters of oleflnic alcohols are especially valuable in the production of resins and plastics because in addition to polymerizing alone they readily copolymerize with other polymerizable compounds containing the CH2=C= grouping to produce polymers of quite different physical and chemical properties than is obtained by polymerization of the latter compounds alone. Thus, a very small percentage of the acrylate of an oleflnic alcohol, when copolymerized with a monomer such as methyl acrylate or other alkyl acrylate or methacrylate, produces a cross-linked polymer which is harder, tougher and more resistant to solvents and heat than is that obtained without the use of the acrylate of an oleflnic alcohol.

The degree or extent of the changes in the properties of. the polymer can be controlled within wide limits, not only by varying the amount of the olefinic acrylic ester but also by suitable choice of the latter ester. Thus, 1 percent of allyl acrylate in methyl acrylate ordinarily produces a hard, tough, insoluble cross-linkedresin whereas 1 percent of oleyl or citronellyl acrylate does not produce appreciable evidence of crosslinkage in methyl acrylate. Thus, the visible effects of cross-linkage are lessened as thedistance between the two double bonds in the alkenyl acrylate is increased. The rigidity of the threedimensional molecule is lessened when the length of the cross-linking chains is increased.

Another important advantage in using acrylic esters of olefinic alcohols in the production of polymers and copolymers lies in the fact that by proper choice of acrylic ester'and. conditions for polymerization it is possible to obtain linear or only slightly cross-linked polymers which still contain olefinic double bonds. Several substances, such as carbon tetrachloride, mercaptans, etc., are known to the art which tend to prevent the formation of cross-linked resins dur-' ing the polymerization. Also, variation of catalyst, temperature and other factors have a known efiect on the type of polymer produced.

The unsaturated polymers which be made by this process will react with the reagents which normally react with such unsaturated materials such as halogens and sulfur. Halogenation of the polymers increase their flame resistance while reaction with sulfur produces the efiects which have long been associated with the process of vulcanization.

Copolymers of alkyl acrylates and small amounts of the alkenyl acrylates described herein are often soft, elastic, and rubberlike and can be vulcanized with sulfur and rubber accelerators to produce rubberlike products. For this purpose we prefer the acrylic esters of olefinic alcohols of four or more carbon atom content. Thus crotyl, citronellyl, cinnamyl, oleyl and similar acrylates may be copolymerized with methyl, ethyl, or butyl acrylate, butyl, amyl, 2-ethylhexy1 or lauryl meth-acrylate or similar monomers which give polymers of the desired consistency. The copolymer may be vulcanized, milled and molded, using the apparatus and reagents which are known to the rubber industry.

The expression "lower alkyl" is employed herein in its commonly understood and accepted sense, as found in numerous patents, meaning alkyl groups such as methyl, ethyl, etc., but excluding alkyl groups having more than six carbon atoms.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

resin which comprises copolymerizing an alkenyl acrylate of 'the formula CH2=CHCOOR, in which R is a radical having at least one olefinic double bond and at least four carbon atoms in its open olefinic chain, with a lower alkyl ester of acrylic acid, in the presence of a polymerization regulator taken from the group consisting of mercaptans and carbon tetrachloride, the alkenyl acrylate being present in the proportion of one acrylate and alkenyl acrylate.

' 2. The process of claim 1 in which the regulator is dodecyl mercaptan.

3. The process of claim 1 in which the lower alkyl acrylate is methyl acrylate and the regulator. is dodecyl' mercaptan.

4. A- resin comprising a copolymer the polymerizable constitutents of which consist of a lower alkyl ester of acrylic acid and one to five percent of geranyl ester of acrylic acid.

5. A resin comprising a copolymer the polymerizable constituents of which consist of a lower alkyl ester of acrylic acid and one to five percent of oleyl ester of acrylic acid.

6. A resin comprising a copolymer the polyto five percent of the mixture of lower alkyl merizable constituents of which consist of a lower alkyl ester of acrylic acid and one to five percent of citrone'llyl ester of acrylic acid.

7. The unsaturated resin comprising a copoly-' mer the polymerizable constituents of which consist of a lower alkyl ester of acrylic acid and one to five percent of an alkenyl acrylate of the formula CHz=CHCO0R' in which R. is a radical having at least one oleflnic double bond and at least four carbon atoms in its open oleflnic chain, a polymerization regulator taken from the group consisting of mercaptans and carbon tetrachloride being present in the copolymerization preparation thereof.

CHESSIE E. REHBERG.

CHARLES H. FISHER REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 20 Number Name Date 2,129,665 Barrett et al Sept. 13, 1938 2,187,694 Y Slagh Jan. 16, 1940 2,189,735 Kistler et al Feb. 6, 1940 2,278,637 Barnes Apr. '7, 1942 2,279,293 Cliflord Apr. 14, 1942 2,382,461 Muskat et a1. Oct. 19, 1943 2,332,896 DAlelio Oct. 26, 1943 Clifiord Nov. 21,1944 

